Power Morcellator Lawsuit Filed In Missouri Claims Device Caused Spread Of Cancer

November 13, 2015 – – Tracey & Fox reports on a lawsuit filed by the family of a deceased woman claiming wrongful death after she underwent a hysterectomy and uterine fibroid removal with the use of a laparoscopic power morcellator. The morcellator in this particular case was manufactured by Ethicon, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical conglomerate Johnson & Johnson.

The suit details that the Missouri woman underwent laparoscopic power morcellation surgery to remove painful uterine fibroids and uterine tissue in December of 2012. The device was inserted through a small incision in her abdomen, where it worked much like a drill, spinning small blades and tearing apart uterine and fibroid tissue so that it can be removed through the incision. In doing so, however, the family alleges that the device also exposed previously encapsulated cancer cells, and spread them throughout the woman’s body.

According to details found within the suit, the family alleges that this caused the woman an accelerated upstaging of cancer, and a deadly cancer diagnosis post-surgery. The woman died due to metastatic uterine cancer in August of 2014, less than two years after her surgical procedure. The family notes that if the cancer cells had not been disseminated by the power morcellator, the cancer would have remained encapsulated in that area, and may have been treatable before spreading.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has also recently noted this problem, making a statement warning women against using the tool for gynecological surgeries due to its risk of spreading previously undetected cancer. The organization also noted that an estimated 1 in every 350 women who are undergoing hysterectomies or myomectomies for uterine fibroids may have unsuspected, hidden uterine cancer called uterine sarcoma. Using a power morcellation tool on these cancer cells, the FDA states, may significantly worsen a patient’s likelihood of long-term survival.

Laparoscopic power morcellation is also the subject of over 1,700 federal lawsuits today, all similarly alleging that the device spreads cancer. Since the FDA warnings were released, Johnson & Johnson has ceased all production of the devices, and has recalled those which were already sold to the medical community.

Power morcellator lawsuits have been consolidated to form multidistrict litigation number 2652. It is anticipated that as these cases await trial, additional ones will join them. Because of this, the attorneys at Tracey & Fox are working to ensure that anyone who may have been diagnosed with widespread cancer due to a gynecological surgery involving a power morcellator has the opportunity to explore their legal rights. These women may be entitled to compensation. Currently, the attorneys at Tracey & Fox are offering free consultations to those involved.

To obtain additional information on power morcellator lawsuits or to ask questions, please contact the attorneys at Tracey & Fox by calling 713-322-5375.

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Contact Tracey & Fox:

Sean Tracey
713-495-2333
440 Louisiana Street , Suite 1901
Houston, TX 77002

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